See this is exactly what I'm talking about. He's a top driver in the wet. He's displayed years of wheel-to-wheel race craft skills. He scored points his 1st time out in a Sauber. He won a race with a Torro Rosso. And he has not only consistently outscored his teammate at Ferrari, he's outscored one of the Mercedes, while driving a clearly inferior car. And he doesn't make rookie mistakes: he's desperately trying to get ahead of a clearly faster car, and has to make some ballsy moves, or end up 3rd or lower each race.

I'm at a loss to understand why Hamilton - who has always had a top car - is considered to have proven himself better than Vettel, who (like Alonso) has proven his abilities with a range of machinery.

You're one of about 13 people on the entire planet that thinks VET is equal to HAM. I've been watching Formula One since I was about 10 years old and I"m in my early 50's. I've met Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg, Niki Lauda, Ross Brawn, Bernie, Norbert Haug, David Coulthard, Bernd Maylander, Susie Wolff, and a host of others in F1.

There is NO ONE closely associated with the sport that would agree with anything you've posted relative to comparing VET to HAM. Wake up and release your bias.

HAM is the GOAT.

so MK, you've probably noticed that we agree on most things regarding modern motorsports. we clearly hold the same views regarding Lewis including, for example, that he is the greatest living F1 driver, and by a good margin. as for the title GOAT, however, my choice was made a long time ago and will be hard for me to give up. I accept the possibility that Lewis may already be there, but at least for the near term this guy is GOAT==>

so MK, you've probably noticed that we agree on most things regarding modern motorsports. we clearly hold the same views regarding Lewis including, for example, that he is the greatest living F1 driver, and by a good margin. as for the title GOAT, however, my choice was made a long time ago and will be hard for me to give up. I accept the possibility that Lewis may already be there, but at least for the near term this guy is GOAT==>

My friend, Lewi5 replaced him for me. It brings a tear to my eye every time I read something about Jim Clark. What a driver!!

It brings a tear to my eye every time I read something about Jim Clark. What a driver!!

One if the best lines describing Clark as a person: "He was peerless in life, both on and off the track.".
One of the best lines describing Clark as a driver: “Clark came through at the end of the first lap of the race so far ahead that we in the pits were convinced that the rest of the field must have been wiped out in an accident."
- Eddie Dennis (Lotus head mechanic), describing the dominance of Jim Clark in the Lotus 49 at Spa-Francorchamps - 1967.
In my more than 50 years of attending Formula 1 races, this was the guy that impressed me the most. He was so much smoother and faster than his peers.

One if the best lines describing Clark as a person: "He was peerless in life, both on and off the track.".
One of the best lines describing Clark as a driver: “Clark came through at the end of the first lap of the race so far ahead that we in the pits were convinced that the rest of the field must have been wiped out in an accident."
- Eddie Dennis (Lotus head mechanic), describing the dominance of Jim Clark in the Lotus 49 at Spa-Francorchamps - 1967.
In my more than 50 years of attending Formula 1 races, this was the guy that impressed me the most. He was so much smoother and faster than his peers.

I'm sitting in my office tearing up. He is still the gold standard it is only recently that Lewi5 has replaced him in my personal pantheon but keep in mind...the difference between to two is so minute that you couldn't slip a cigarette paper between the two.

One if the best lines describing Clark as a person: "He was peerless in life, both on and off the track.".
One of the best lines describing Clark as a driver: “Clark came through at the end of the first lap of the race so far ahead that we in the pits were convinced that the rest of the field must have been wiped out in an accident."
- Eddie Dennis (Lotus head mechanic), describing the dominance of Jim Clark in the Lotus 49 at Spa-Francorchamps - 1967.
In my more than 50 years of attending Formula 1 races, this was the guy that impressed me the most. He was so much smoother and faster than his peers.

I'm sitting in my office tearing up. He is still the gold standard it is only recently that Lewi5 has replaced him in my personal pantheon but keep in mind...the difference between to two is so minute that you couldn't slip a cigarette paper between the two.

Cheers-mk

A few years ago, when Poiseuille Jr was just beginning to get fast in karting, I realized that the lad was confused regarding the definition of the expression "drift", understandable considering the abuse that word gets in North America. In order to better illustrate what I was trying to convey with my words and hand gestures, I showed him these two pictures. They are my two favorite pictures of him, at Brands Hatch in a Lotus Cortina thumbing his nose at all known physics.

Interesting that all this Lewis praise is coming right on the heals of one of his most memorable wins. Plus there are those pointing out the mistakes and misfortunes of his opponents almost implying that Lewis is above that sort of thing. Finally there's some trying to make the point that he's some sort of admirable human being.
Let's not overlook...This year he's made the accusation that the red cars were trying to wreck silver cars, forgetting the time Hamilton, who was branded "stupid" by Raikkonen, was handed a 10-place grid penalty for shunting the world champion out of the 2008 Montreal race in a pit-lane collision. Then remember another (2011) Canadian Grand Prix when he was involved in three separate incidents before he was forced to retire. Initially he tagged and spun Mark Webber, then later ran wide as he attempted a pass on Nico Rosberg, before crashing into Button. The accident resulted in Hamilton hitting the wall and puncturing his left rear tire.
Then...He's all but admitted that one season his performance was off because of a chick getting into his head and in another season it was his own teammate that f- - -ked with his mind and as such affected his on track performance. Just a few weeks ago his paranoia had him insinuating the competition had become faster because of "tricks".
Is the guy good? Absolutely. But just the same, for some of us, his retirement from the sport can't come soon enough. I've tried, but he's just not easy to like.

Matt Bishop worked with Lewi5 at Macca for years.
Please forward to Minute 25 and watch for the next 15 or so minutes. It should give you a completely different view of Lewi5 if you're open minded.

A few years ago, when Poiseuille Jr was just beginning to get fast in karting, I realized that the lad was confused regarding the definition of the expression "drift", understandable considering the abuse that word gets in North America. In order to better illustrate what I was trying to convey with my words and hand gestures, I showed him these two pictures. They are my two favorite pictures of him, at Brands Hatch in a Lotus Cortina thumbing his nose at all known physics.

Cortina ! Yeah. My grandfather showed me pictures , he had one in white with red leather interior. He said Cortinas were a piece of crap .
He had 2 Ford engine replacements . First engine blew with 350 miles on it ! Car was more at the Ford/Dealer than in his garage ! Finally he left his Cortina at the Ford/Dealer for free ...
He said , that was the best day in my life !